LOUISVILLE: Two animal welfare experts resigned from KFC earlier this month rather than comply with a policy requiring consultants to refer all media calls to the company.

KFC said the policy was nothing new, but the consultants, Temple Grandin of Colorado State University and Ian Duncan of the University of Guelph in Canada, disputed that claim. Both said the confidentiality agreements they had previously signed with the company did not attempt to keep them from speaking to the media.

Grandin, a widely quoted authority on humane animal handling, said: "I've signed a lot of non-disclosure agreements but I've never signed an agreement like this. I can't have my name used out in public without being able to comment on it."

Said Duncan: "That's unacceptable to me. I feel I've got to defend myself; I feel I have to justify my positions."

KFC did not return calls seeking comment.

KFC has been the target of attacks from PETA over alleged mishandling of chickens by its suppliers.

Grandin and Duncan sat on an animal welfare committee for KFC's parent company Yum Brands.